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Governor Abbott Proclaims Small Business Week In Texas

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Governor Greg Abbott today invited all Texans to celebrate the unique role small businesses play in the economic resurgence in communities throughout the state of Texas as he issued a proclamation officially designating May 9–15 as Small Business Week in Texas.

“An amazing 99.8% of businesses in the Lone Star State are small businesses. They are the heart of every Texas community, and their continuing resilience drives local job creation and fuels our mighty economy,” said Governor Abbott. “Men and women willing to take a risk, to dig deep into their own pockets and stake their future on an idea, have long written the story of Texas. That pioneering spirit in our small town downtowns to our big city centers still fuels our shared prosperity today. As we unleash the Texas economy, I am proud to celebrate small business growth in Texas. When small businesses succeed, Texas succeeds.”

Governor Abbott announced the next Governor’s Small Business Webinar, “Starting a Business in Texas,” Thursday, May 13, 2021, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., CT. For more information and registration, visit: https://gov.texas.gov/business/event/governors-small-business-webinar-start-a-business-in-texas

Governor Abbott also announced additional resources available through the Office of the Governor for aspiring entrepreneurs and for existing small business owners looking to expand and grow jobs.

Governor’s Small Business Webinar Resource Library

gov.texas.gov/business/page/small-business-webinars

On-demand webinars focused on small business needs. Since April 2020, nearly 20,000 small businesses and resource providers have participated in webinars covering:

  • 2021 New Federal Funding
  • Business Strategy (Financial Planning)
  • Business Strategy (E-commerce)
  • Starting a Business
  • Veterans Resources
  • 2020 CARES Act Funding
  • Public Procurement Tips

Governor’s Small Business Resource Portal

gov.texas.gov/business-portal

For aspiring entrepreneurs or established business owners, the recently launched Small Business Resource Portal provides customized lists of the most relevant resources and contacts to help you find success.

Governor’s Office of Small Business Assistance

gov.texas.gov/smallbusiness

Assisting small and medium Texas businesses through advocacy, entrepreneurial support, education, and technical assistance. The Office serves as a focal point in the state for start-ups and small businesses of all sizes in urban, suburban, and rural communities, offering a variety of services and information including:

  • Governor’s Small Business Resource Portal
  • Small Business Webinars & Events
  • Start a Business
  • Moving Your Small Business to Texas
  • Business Permit Office
  • Financing & Capital for Small Businesses
  • Public Procurement & HUB Resources
  • Veteran, Minority & Women-Owned Business Resources

Women-Owned Business Webinar Series

gov.texas.gov/organization/women/economic-opportunities

The Governor’s Commission for Women will be hosting a series of informative webinars in each region of Texas beginning in July. The series is an opportunity for small business owners and entrepreneurs to listen and learn from subject-matter experts and gain actionable advice about starting, growing, and sustaining a business in each region of Texas. Dates and details to be announced.

Resources for Communities

gov.texas.gov/business

The Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office (EDT) in the Office of the Governor is tasked with marketing and promoting Texas as a premier business location and travel destination. EDT works closely with regional and community partners to ensure that Texas remains the top state for business in the country. To connect with our Office and learn about resources available for community partners please visit gov.texas.gov/business

 

Source: gov.texas.gov

New CDC Campaign Highlights Steps to Prevent Injury in Adults Ages 65 and Over

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is launching Still Going Strong, a national campaign that brings attention to ways older adults (age 65 and older) can age without injury.

The campaign is raising awareness about the leading causes of unintentional injuries and deaths in older adults. Still Going Strong will encourage older adults to continue participating in their favorite hobbies and activities, while informing them and their caregivers of steps they can take to prevent injuries that disproportionately impact this population—falls, motor vehicle crashes, and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

“Experiencing injuries doesn’t have to be a normal part of aging; many injuries that are common in older adults can be prevented,” said Debra Houry, MD, MPH, director of CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. “We know that injuries and deaths from falls and motor vehicle crashes are increasing in older adults. We hope Still Going Strong will help inform our audience about simple steps they can do to prevent injuries and their lasting effects. Everyone has a role—older adults, caregivers, loved ones, and healthcare providers. By taking proactive steps, you can prevent potentially life-changing injuries from happening and maintain your independence and mobility longer.”

The prevalence of older adult injuries

Older adults had over 2.4 million emergency department (ED) visits and 700,000 hospitalizations related to injuries from falls, motor vehicle crashes, opioid overdoses, and self-harm in 2018, according to a new CDC report in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). Unintentional falls accounted for over 90% of these ED visits and hospitalizations.

Falls. Falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries in older adults. An older adult falls every second of the day, accounting for over 36 million falls each year. Of those falls, 1 out of every 5 causes a serious injury, such as broken bones or a head injury. After an older adult falls, their chances of falling again and getting injured increases.

Motor Vehicle Crashes. Older adults account for over 46 million licensed drivers in the United States—or 1 in 5 drivers. Driving helps older adults stay independent, but the risk of being injured or killed in a motor vehicle crash increases as we age. Every day, 700 older adults are injured in a motor vehicle crash and 22 die because of their injuries.

TBI. Falls and motor vehicle crashes are common causes of TBI in older adults. TBI is a major cause of death and disability, and those who survive a TBI can face effects that last a few days or the rest of their lives.

Aging without injury

Over 10,000 people in the United States turn 65 every day. Getting older doesn’t have to mean giving up your favorite hobbies and activities. Older adults are more active and mobile than ever, but an injury from a fall or motor vehicle crash can decrease their independence. It’s important for older adults and their caregivers to understand common injuries that can happen as we age and what they can do to prevent these injuries.

Older adults and their caregivers can take simple steps to prevent injuries from falls or car crashes. One of the most important things older adults can do is to talk to their healthcare providers—including general practitioners, specialists, physical therapists, and pharmacists.

  • Older adults can take simple steps to maintain their independence and mobility, such as talking to their health care providers about preventing falls and car crashes, removing throw rugs to make their home safer, and always wearing a seat belt while driving or riding in a vehicle.
  • Friends, family, and caregivers can help loved ones live longer and healthier lives by talking with them about fall and motor vehicle crash prevention and by encouraging them to stay active and make safe choices, such as finding alternative transportation for going places at night.
  • Healthcare providers can ask their older patients if they have concerns about falling or driving safely. They also can review older patients’ over-the-counter and prescription medications to identify if any cause drowsiness or dizziness.

CDC’s Still Going Strong campaign will initially focus ads in metro and rural markets in four states: Maine, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Wisconsin. States were selected for their incidence of older adult falls, fall injuries, motor vehicle crashes, and deaths caused by injuries. The campaign will have national reach through digital and social media and partner efforts.

Source: www.cdc.gov

Texas Drilling Permits And Completions Statistics For April 2021

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The Railroad Commission of Texas issued a total of 732 original drilling permits in April 2021 compared to 456 in April 2020. The April 2021 total includes 629 permits to drill new oil or gas wells, five to re-enter plugged wellbores, and 94 for re-completions of existing wellbores.

The breakdown of well types for original drilling permits in April 2021 in 205 oil, 63 gas, 434 oil or gas, 22 injections, and eight other permits.

In April 2021, Commission staff processed 449 oil, 106 gas, and 98 injection completions for new drills, re-entries, and re-completions, compared to 981 oil, 246 gas, and 249 injection completions in April 2020.

Total well completions processed for 2021 year-to-date for new drills, re-entries, and re-completions are 2,924 compared to 5,285 recorded during the same period in 2020.

Detailed data on drilling permits and well completions for the month can be found at this link:

https://www.rrc.texas.gov/oil-and-gas/research-and-statistics/drilling-information/monthly-drilling-completion-and-plugging-summaries/

 

TABLE 1 – APRIL 2021 TEXAS OIL AND GAS NEW DRILLING PERMITS AND COMPLETIONS BY RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS DISTRICT*

DISTRICT PERMITS TO DRILL NEW OIL/GAS HOLES NEW OIL COMPLETIONS NEW GAS COMPLETIONS
(1) SAN ANTONIO AREA 52 33 6
(2) REFUGIO AREA 57 23 7
(3) SOUTHEAST TEXAS 14 8 1
(4) DEEP SOUTH TEXAS 7 1 0
(5) EAST CENTRAL TX 0 0 1
(6) EAST TEXAS 32 2 33
(7B) WEST CENTRAL TX 22 12 3
(7C) SAN ANGELO AREA 51 36 0
(8) MIDLAND 357 254 31
(8A) LUBBOCK AREA 9 15 0
(9) NORTH TEXAS 21 18 2
(10) PANHANDLE 7 1 1
TOTAL 629 403 85

Source: www.rrc.state.tx.us

Governor Abbott Appoints Three to State Employee Charitable Campaign Policy Committee

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Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Vanessa Cortez Tanner and reappointed Alicia Key Ellison to the State Employee Charitable Campaign Policy Committee for terms set to expire on September 1, 2022. Additionally, the Governor appointed Brent Connett for a term set to expire on September 1, 2021. The committee helps develop rules and procedures for the State Employee Charitable Campaign and reviews the recommended campaign plan.

Alicia G. Key Ellison of Dripping Springs is an attorney and owner of Key Law Office, PC. She served for many years as a state employee, retiring from state service in 2013. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas and its Family Law Section and a former president of the National Council of Child Support Directors. She also is a former board member for the National Child Support Enforcement Association and is a former mentor with the Seedling Foundation. Key received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Texas Tech University and a Juris Doctor from Texas Tech School of Law.

Vanessa Cortez Tanner of Austin is Chief of Staff for Texas State Representative Scott Sanford. Previously, she was employed as a Committee Clerk/Director for the Texas Senate Committee on Administration. She is a member and past president of the Texas State University Austin Alumni Chapter, Board Member of the Wittliff Collections Advisory Board at Texas State University, and a former Council Member of the Texas State Leadership Council for University Advancement. Tanner received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Mass Communication from Texas State University.

Brent Connett of Austin is Deputy Director of Appointments in the Office of the Texas Governor. Previously, he worked in the Texas Senate and for a legislative caucus and public policy research foundation. He currently serves in the Texas State Guard, having earned the rank of Sergeant First Class. Connett received a Bachelor of Arts in Government from The University of Texas at Austin.

These appointments are subject to Senate confirmation.

Source: gov.texas.gov

CRIME STOPPERS OF HOUSTON FUGITIVE FRIDAY

 In an effort to keep our neighborhoods safe, Crime Stoppers of Houston and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office are seeking the public’s help locating the following individuals that have active Felony and/or Misdemeanor Warrants.

Crime Stoppers may pay up to $5,000 for information leading to the location and arrest of the suspects featured. Information may be reported by calling 713-222-TIPS (8477), submitted online at www.crime-stoppers.org or through the Crime Stoppers mobile app. All tipsters remain anonymous. Only tips and calls DIRECTLY TO Crime Stoppers are anonymous and eligible for a cash reward.

The language in this press release is intentional and could have legal implications.  Please do not change the copy of the paragraph above.

All warrants are active at the time this press release was created and is subject to change.  Crime Stoppers of Houston and this news organization are not making any legal claims that this is the most current legal status.

The following individuals all have active warrants as of Thursday, May 6, 2021 9:40 p.m.:
Barkley, Kyle Alan
W/M      08-16-97      5’09”/150 Lbs.      Brn/Blu
Injury to Elderly
Warrant #: 1720118
Last known location: Cypress Texas
Benoit Jr, Clyde Lester
B/M      09-10-81      6’01”/290 Lbs.      Blk/Bro
Injury to Elderly
Warrant #: 1678017, 1597350
Last known location: Houston Texas
Berry, Teshaye Ruth
B/F      09-18-97      5’04”/100 Lbs.      Blk/Bro
Theft/Agg >=$750<$2500 Elder/Nonprof
Warrant #: 1710460
Last known location: Houston Texas
Garcia, Carroll Ann
W/F      09-29-85      5’01”/140 Lbs.      Bro/Bro
Injury to Elderly
Warrant #: 1665232
Last known location: Houston Texas
Lopez, Elizabeth Ann
W/F      02-07-71      5’03”/115 Lbs.      Blk/Bro
Theft from Person/Elderly
Warrant #: 1719727
Last known location: Houston Texas
Mesa, Joseph Adam
W/M      12-02-88      6’00”/170 Lbs.      Blk/Bro
Theft from Person/Elderly
Warrant #: 1719755
Last known location: Sealy Texas
Paloma, Victor
W/M      12-22-00      5’10”/170Lbs.      Blk/Bro
Injury to Elderly
Warrant #: 1678110
Last known location: Baytown Texas
Pierson, Leslie Gay
W/F      08-24-63      5’02”/125 Lbs.      Bro/Bro
Injury to Elderly
Warrant #: 1674435
Last known location: Houston Texas
Ridley, Michael Ray
B/M      05-11-60      5’10”/150 Lbs.      Blk/Bro
Theft/Agg >=$750<$2500 Elder/Nonprof
Warrant #: 1607496
Last known location: Houston Texas
Willis, Shanice Declair
B/F      01-31-92      5’02”/125 Lbs.      Bro/Bro
Injury to Elderly
Warrant #: 1693032
Last known location: Houston Texas
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Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lina Hidalgo join forces to get out the vote

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“People have to recognize the fact that they have tremendous power,” Schwarzenegger said during a virtual summit on Elections and the Future of Voting.

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, both immigrants who became U.S. citizens, share a passion for the importance of voting rights for all Americans.

They’re working to keep the momentum that led to record voter turnout in the 2020 election.

“It’s not a Democratic or Republican issue. It’s a people issue,” Schwarzenegger said Tuesday during a virtual summit on Elections and the Future of Voting.

The former California governor and Hidalgo are being honored by the Jack Brooks Foundation for eliminating barriers and finding creative ways to make voting possible despite the pandemic.

A $2.5 million grant from the Schwarzenegger Institute helped pay for new polling places to increase voter access in eight states with a history of voter suppression.

“People have to recognize the fact that they have tremendous power,” Schwarzenegger said. “Voting is the most important thing you can do.”

Hidalgo worked with other Houston leaders to make voting easier by adding more early voting locations, drive-thru voting, and 24-hour polling places. The changes helped lead to the highest Harris County turnout since 1992.

In response, Texas Republicans are working to pass a sweeping bill that would limit how and when Texans cast ballots. Hidalgo says it would allow partisan poll watchers to get as close as they want to voters and record video of them.

Source: www.khou.com

Counselors Not Cops: Call for Policing Reforms In HISD

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LAST YEAR, HISD ALUMNUS GEORGE FLOYD WAS MURDERED BY POLICE. TODAY, THE HISD SUPERINTENDENT AND SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEES STILL HAVE NOT MOVED FORWARD ON SCHOOL POLICE REFORM.

pexels-photo-60125 (1).jpeg

For several years HISD students, parents, community members, and community organizations have urged the superintendent and school board to prioritize changes to the HISD Police Department. Instead, they have only the used countless, national deaths at the hands of police as a form of pseudo-empathy, and the need for action remains

The Safe and Supportive Schools Collaborative has recommended eight policies that HISD can vote on and implement that would protect HISD students. When those recommendations were shared at the HISD board workshop, HISD Police Department Chief Pete Lopez publicly acknowledged that these reforms were reasonable, and most could be enacted by changing the policing policy manual.

Multiple letters to the superintendent and school board were submitted in support of the recommendations by community-based organizations, but no HISD administrator has taken any action to create any reform. These recommendations included no longer permitting HISD Police Department officers to pepper-spray students, use zip ties as handcuffs, arrest students on campus for non-violent student violations, or question students about alleged crimes without a parent or guardian present. The only thing stopping the adoption of these policies is bureaucratic inaction.

Based on conversations with numerous HISD School Board Trustees, the Earl Carl Institute and our partners believe that another meeting is not necessary to decide whether or not students should be pepper-sprayed on campus. There is broad support to pass this policy, as well as all other policies previously recommended, and such should be placed on the school board’s agenda in May. Escalation of police interaction like pepper-spraying, zip tying, and arresting directly harms young people. HISD students have and continue to experience such harm at school. We do not believe that students should experience trauma or be treated like criminals for minor school misconduct.

Superintendent Lathan, as educators, students, and members of the Houston community, we call on our leaders to place the HISD Police Department policy reforms to the May 13th board meeting agenda for a vote.

There is no evidence that police presence in schools increases or improves school safety.  On the contrary, police presence increases the number of minor behavioral problems that are referred to the police.  These referrals unnecessarily funnel kids into the juvenile and criminal justice systems. Instead of funding policing, HISD should prioritize the implementation of new practices regarding school policing in the district.

Accordingly, the Safe & Supportive Schools Collaboration urge and encourage HISD to (a) increase transparency, (b) limit police engagement with students, and (c) properly implement safe and supportive practices as detailed in the following recommendations:

(A.) We urge the HISD to increase transparency regarding its school-policing practices by:

  • Providing campus-specific data on police encounters with students and;
  • Committing to ongoing discussions about policing and prioritizing voices of HISD parents and young people during these conversations

(B.) We urge the HISD to limit police engagement with students by:

  • Banning the use of force by police when interacting with students;
  • Prohibiting police from questioning students without a parent present and;
  • Prohibiting police from arresting students on campus where there are no weapons or serious bodily injury involved.

(C.) We urge the HISD to implement safe and supportive practices by:

  • Divesting funding from school policing in the district, and instead reallocating funding to the hiring of more counselors, social workers, and psychologists;
  • Increasing and properly implementing the use of Restorative Justice practices and routinely evaluating program fidelity and;
  • Providing trauma-informed resources and mental health services to teachers and students. This includes increasing the counselor-to-student ratio from HISD’S current ratio of 1:1000+ to the recommendation of 1:250.

The Safe & Supportive School Collaborative includes the Earl Carl Institute at Texas Southern University, ONE Houston, Disability Rights Texas, Children’s Defense Fund and Texas Appleseed.  Learn more about our Counselors Not Cops Campaign at: https://counselorsnotcops.org/ and follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SafeandSupportiveSchoolsCollaborative/.

STATEMENT FROM FORT BEND COUNTY JUDGE KP GEORGE IN SUPPORT OF CITY OF HOUSTON’S STAND AGAINST VOTER SUPPRESSION

Texas House Bill 7 and Senate Bill 6 are suppressive pieces of legislation reminiscent of Jim Crow era tactics prior to the Civil Rights era.  There is a responsibility for all of us, as a community, as organizations, as representatives of the people to speak out against these flagrant attempts at voter suppression with restrictive voting provisions.

 

I stand in support of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and City of Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner in their actions to pull the annual State of the City Address from the Greater Houston Partnership over the Chamber’s silence on Texas voting bills. The implications of silence on this issue are too consequential and that Hidalgo and Turner have decided to make that clear is admirable.

 

Fort Bend County made bipartisan changes before the 2020 elections to make voting more accessible, with county commissioners voting unanimously to extend voting hours, turning the Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land into a mega-voting site, and creating drive-thru voting for those who were unable to walk inside a voting center.

 

Analysts predict that laws that restrict the right of people to fully and freely participate in electoral processes can lead to a total loss in the gross product of over $1.5 trillion over a 24 year period.  These laws affect our citizens both at the polls and in the economy and I, like Hidalgo and Turner, believe the Greater Houston Partnership should care about that.

 

Our County had been considering joining the Greater Houston Partnership for some time now, but following their silence on this, we will no longer consider becoming a member organization. Now is the time to take a stand, the eyes of history are indeed upon us now.

La nueva sede del Consulado General de México en Houston abre sus puertas a partir del 24 de mayo de 2021

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·         El Consulado General de México en Houston continuará brindando servicios de manera ininterrumpida en su sede actual hasta el 14 de mayo y en modalidad móvil en Pasadena, TX, hasta el 21 de mayo. 

 

·         Las nuevas instalaciones del Consulado General de México en Houston se ajustan a las cambiantes necesidades de las cerca de 800 personas que atiende diariamente.

Houston, TX (5 de mayo de 2021).– El Consulado General de México en Houston anunció la apertura de su nueva sede a partir del 24 de mayo de 2021 en 10555 Richmond Ave, Houston, TX, 77042, la cual ofrecerá mayor funcionalidad y accesibilidad.

El anuncio se realizó esta mañana a través de las redes sociales del consulado mexicano, así como por el programa de radio “Tu Consulado, Tu Voz” por CBBA y 98.3FM subrayando que en ningún momento se suspenderán los servicios ofrecidos de lunes a viernes de ocho de la mañana a seis de la tarde.

“Nuestro compromiso es priorizar la atención oportuna y permanente a una comunidad mexicana en Houston que rebasa los 2 millones de personas en 37 condados,” dijo la Cónsul General, Alicia Kerber Palma. “Por ello, el Consulado General de México en Houston realiza importantes esfuerzos para brindar servicios de manera ininterrumpida durante esta breve transición.”

El Consulado General de México en Houston mantiene sus actividades en su conocida sede actual localizada en 4506 Caroline Street hasta el viernes 14 de mayo. Posteriormente, para garantizar las óptimas condiciones de la nueva ubicación y realizar el proceso de mudanza, del lunes 17 al 21 de mayo se instalará un Consulado Móvil y Sobre Ruedas en Revive! Church – First United Methodist Church, 1062 Fairmont Parkway, Pasadena, TX. A partir del lunes 24 de mayo todas las actividades y servicios del Consulado se brindarán en la sede ubicada en el área de Westchase (10555 Richmond Ave, Houston, TX, 77042.)

Las citas para los trámites en el consulado móvil en Pasadena y la nueva sede en Richmond Avenue se pondrán a disposición del público el 11 y 18 de mayo, respectivamente. El Consulado General de México en Houston reitera que las citas son completamente gratuitas, personales e intransferibles y se realizan a través del sistema de Mexitel (mexitel.sre.gob.mx) por lo que hace un llamado a evitar fraudes en la programación de citas a través de gestores que pueden hacer mal uso de datos personales y confidenciales, a la vez que desinformar sobre los requisitos necesarios para la obtención de documentos.

Además de instalaciones renovadas para mantener una atención eficiente y oportuna, la nueva sede del Consulado General de México en Houston cuenta con estacionamiento propio y es de fácil acceso a través de diversas vialidades, así como por medio de la línea 25 del transporte público METRO cuya parada en la esquina de Richmond y Rogerdale se encuentra a escasos pasos de la representación consular.

“Una de las frecuentes preocupaciones de nuestros y nuestras usuarias era encontrar un lugar de estacionamiento al acudir al Consulado, lo cual les hacía vulnerables a abusos de personas que vendían espacios a precios exorbitantes,” dijo la Cónsul General, Alicia Kerber. “Contar con un espacio de estacionamiento completamente gratuito para el tiempo que la persona permanezca en nuestras instalaciones es una de las muchas mejoras incorporadas para responder a las cambiantes necesidades de nuestra comunidad.”

Adicionalmente, la Cónsul General hizo una invitación a consultar la página oficial del Consulado (consulmex.sre.gob.mx/houston), así como sus redes sociales (@consulmexhou) donde de manera permanente se estará publicando la información relevante a esta reubicación.

Por más de 100 años, el Consulado General de México se ha consolidado como un espacio seguro y confiable para las personas mexicanas, mexicanoamericanas e hispanas, así como un referente de iniciativas a favor de toda la comunidad de Houston. Su próxima reubicación reafirma el compromiso a mantener un intercambio claro y oportuno con la finalidad de llegar más lejos y a más personas.